WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) and CBV will resume negotiations toward a new Collective Labor Agreement (CAO) without further delay. The Board of Directors considers it important to move the process forward now, while discussions with the Government of Curaçao on the necessary funding continue. The goal is to reach agreement on an initial improvement to the CAO as of January 2027.
The CAO process had been affected by the healthcare salary study announced by the Minister of Health. As completion of this study could take considerable time, the Board of Directors does not believe negotiations should remain on hold. “Our employees have waited a long time for a new CAO. We understand their frustration and believe it is important to start negotiations now and work toward agreements that are fair and financially sustainable,” the Board of Directors states.The CAO will apply to all CMC employees, regardless of union membership. Negotiations will address salary as well as other primary and secondary employment conditions, taking into account the priorities of employees.
CMC is simultaneously continuing discussions with the Government of Curaçao on the funding needed from January 1, 2027 to meet both patient-care and employee needs. The Minister of Health indicated Monday that additional resources may be available and expressed his willingness to support CMC. Further discussions will determine whether these resources, provided to CMC through SVB, are sufficient to meet the hospital’s overall needs.
CMC will keep employees informed as the negotiations progress.